About Us
Library Mission Statement
The Plumb Memorial and Huntington Branch Libraries (the Shelton Library System) are dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment that celebrates a love of reading and lifelong learning, a resource to provide valuable information, and a cultural center that enriches the lives of our patrons and community. We strive to keep pace with current technology while honoring our past.
Long Range Plan
The library system’s long range plan was developed by the library staff and the public to outline goals and objectives for the organization from 2018-2023. The plan can be found below in its entirety.
Plumb Memorial Library
65 Wooster Street, Shelton CT, 06484
Plumb Memorial Library Hours
9:00am – 5:00pm Monday
9:00am – 7:00pm Tuesday
9:00am – 5:00pm Wednesday
9:00am – 7:00pm Thursday
9:00am – 5:00pm Friday
9:00am – 3:00pm Saturday
Main Number
203-924-1580
Extensions
x 1 Adult Circulation
x 2 Reference Department
x 3 Children’s Circulation
x 4 Staff Member by Last Name
Curbside Service will be available upon request.
Librarians at Plumb
Huntington Branch Library
41 Church Street • Shelton CT, 06484
Huntington Branch Library Hours
10:00am – 7:00pm Monday
10:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday
10:00am – 7:00pm Wednesday
10:00am – 5:00pm Thursday
10:00am – 5:00pm Friday
10:00am – 3:00pm Saturday
Main Number
203-926-0111
Librarians at Huntington
Library Board of Directors
The Board is tasked with overseeing the operations of the Library System, and is ultimately responsible for the buildings, collections, services, and staff within it. Members are publicly elected, and serve six-year terms. Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Plumb Memorial Library.
- Jim Geissler, President
- Stephen Bellis
- Rebecca Perillo
- Jean Cayer
- David Gioiello, Jr.
- Aleta Miner
The Board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Plumb Memorial Library at 6:00pm.
History
In the winter of 1891, David Wells Plumb, a successful Shelton businessman, chaired a meeting of city residents who voted to establish a public library. The residents raised nearly $2,000 at that meeting, and in October 1892 they voted to appropriate a three-quarter-mill tax toward the library’s support. They also appointed six people as Library Directors, with Plumb serving as Library President. About 1,000 books were bought and rooms were rented on the second floor of the Pierpont building at the corner of Howe Avenue and White Street. Although the rooms served the purpose, Plumb felt the library should have its own building and began making plans to secure some centrally located land toward that goal. Before his plans could be realized, Plumb died.
Plumb’s death was very sudden. There was no provision made for the building in his will. Plumb’s brother, Horace, a Bridgeport businessman, received the majority of the estate. In a beautiful act of generosity, he turned over money for the building to the city. Plumb’s widow, Louise, donated property at Wooster Street, adjacent to their family home. Mrs. Plumb had just as much enthusiasm for the project as her husband. It is for that reason that the project was a success. Charles Beardsley, Jr. of Bridgeport was chosen as the architect and the Beardsley Company of Huntington was named contractor for the project. The brownstone library building, which is considered to be an outstanding example of Romanesque architecture, was completed in 1895.
Just ten years after it was completed, the Library Board felt that the new building was not big enough. They began to make plans for an addition. Two referendums were lost between then and March of 1973, when voters approved a $500,000 addition to the structure. The addition was completed in 1974. At the time of the third referendum, the library, which was meant to hold 10,000 books, was holding 55,609 books. The new section would have room for 40,000 books, a periodicals section, a circulation desk, and workrooms on the first floor. The lower floor has the children’s library, a meeting room, storage, and restrooms. The original building is currently being used as a reading room. At the end of 1991, the Huntington Branch Library opened at the Shelton Community Center. Today, the Library System holds over 190,000 items. Over the years there have been seven City Librarians: R.P. Kimberly, 1892-1903, Helen Beard, 1903-1909, Jessamine Ward, 1909-1949, Christine Mills, 1949-1966, Doris Buchheit, 1966-2000, C. Elspeth Lydon, 2000-2016, and Joan Stokes, 2017-present.
